Have a sheep shearing fiber festival right at your library! Learn how shepherds care for sheep from lamb to ewe, and watch one of the flock lose their fleece.
Then, make a drop spindle from recycled CD's, and after carding you can spin the wool right from the sheep! This program provides patrons with a working knowledge of sheep breeds and their various uses around the world, and wool and spindle to bring home to keep on spinning!
This program is suitable for 2019 summer reading.

Winterberry farm is a fully operating sustainable farm located in Binghamton, NY. Our animals participate in an on farm petting zoo and have toured several libraries and schools around the state. I bring a miniature horse, sheep, goat, angora rabbit, goose, turkey, chicken, duck, and guinea hen; along with anything else that is new or fits in the trailer. Most of our animals are heritage breeds, there is an explanation of the history of the breed, how the animal benefits the farm, what products come from the animal, and general care and management. Kids can pet the animals learn to handle them. This program is suitable for the 2019 summer reading program.

In the late 1980's, scientists began hypothesizing about growing food in space in preparation for the international space station and colonizing other planets. Biospheres were built and humans volunteered to live in them for 1-3 years at a time to mimic missions to other planets. Scientists studied nutrient requirements of plants, interpersonal relationships between participants, and environmental controls within these closed systems to explore scenarios astronauts might face when colonizing new planets. In this program, the library will build and host its own biosphere so students can learn about these closed systems in real time, and conduct experiments as if they were in space.
To book this program, please add yourself to the spreadsheet below on your desired date and time.
1.) Please note the distance between libraries. Please attempt to book with other libraries in your system.
2.) Times on the spreadsheet are suggestions, you may alter the times to suit your schedule.
3.) Please fill out the contact information completely by scrolling right on the spreadsheet.
Booking Schedule - (Copy and paste link into your browser)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qzL5Ns32L-QBUZIvSTGc BxFPVGlRdWc3oKO0ubYyuT8
This program is suitable for the 2019 Summer Reading theme.

Welcome to the world of horses! Children and adults alike are fascinated by these majestic creatures, and the experiences with them can be magical! Spending time around horses and ponies has been proven in many studies to be therapeutic on many levels both physically and emotionally. The bond can be quite powerful and healing, but where to start?
It is important to know the nature of a horse, how to properly handle them on the ground as well as while riding. Proper care and feeding, tack fitting, and maintenance will be discussed as well. This is all taught out of the American Association for Horsemanship Safety manual by Jan Dawson.
Katie, our real life miniature horse will be available to be pet, groomed, and for demonstration of safety techniques.
This program is suitable for the 2019 summer reading program.

How did people keep their food through the winter before there was refrigeration, or even before Napoleon invented canning? Learn how to make sauerkraut and other homemade foods preserved by using lacto-fermentation, an ancient preservation method used by Vikings.
Unlock not only vitamins and minerals, but also enhance gut health by incorporating probiotics into your diet!
Participants can watch their choice of fermentation project at the library and taste the final product when complete. They will learn the skills to make their own at home, and try a variety of Viking foods at the end of the presentation.
This program pairs well with “Nourishing Traditions” by
Sally Fallon

Laura Ingalls Day is a compilation of programs normally taught in a 1 hour block, designed for a kickoff or finale to summer reading, or an event that will bring in patrons during the winter.
Starting with sugaring off, we will make sugar on snow, then move onto fresh butter, cheese, and sourdough bread. Next we will plant a garden on the library grounds or start transplants for growing on the windowsill. We can wash up with home made old fashioned lye soap, and hand dip candles. Wrap it all up by meeting farm animals and learning to care for them just like Laura and Mary.
Based on book: Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this program can incorporate reading the book and eating between stations. The program can last 4-8 hours, depending on age group and individual or combinations of stations.
Great for the 2019 summer reading program.

Did you know that plants can grow from cuttings and not just seeds? Would you like to learn how to graft scions and choose root stocks? What hormonal treatments or media should be used to encourage growth, and what is the science behind it?
Maybe you do not possess a green thumb, but always dreamed of having a beautiful garden. This program will inspire young and old alike to collect coleus, jade, violet, and other easy to propagate plants, and dive into citrus and other exotics to enrich their lives and give everyone the opportunity to grow an amazing garden. Participants may bring home cuttings and seeds to sow at home or in the vacant lot next door.

The Native Americans used a hunter-gatherer model for centuries before agriculture was brought to their land. They knew how to find and prepare many foods from the wild, foods that still exist and are readily available today.
Would you survive a natural disaster, war, or zombie apocalypse? This program will show you the plants that are in your own backyard that you can survive on, even in winter.
Patrons will handle real native plants and learn when, where, and how to locate them. They will be able to taste wild foods during and after the program.
Based on Euell Gibbons book “Stalking the Wild Asparagus.

Chickens are fascinating to kids, just ask my daughter Vienna as she walks around with one on her shoulder. Bring real live leashed chickens into your library for a fun filled, cluckingly good time!
This program features chickens from around the world; Speckled Sussex from England, Blue Andalusians from Spain, Glossy Black Sumatras, Araucana from South America, Cuckoo Maran from France, and others who lay different colors and sizes of eggs.
Learn the history and unique characteristics of these breeds, along with basic animal husbandry skills.
Children can pet the chickens and depending on the season we bring baby chicks along. (Don't worry, we bring a droppings mat to protect the floor!)
This program is suitable for the 2019 Summer reading program.

First, we make planting pots out of recycled newspaper, or soil blocks with a press. Then, participants fill their pots with soil and pick from a variety of organic seeds to plant. Last, we make labels so we remember what we are growing! Unlimited transplants can be planted to be taken home or plan a library garden for this program, and it is a great way to get kids excited about summer gardening!
Suitable for 2019 summer reading.

* Inclusion in this database does not indicate endorsement of any performer
or program by the NYS Education Department, the Office of Cultural Education, the NYS Library or the participating
library systems, nor does it eliminate the need for reference checks and appropriate standard screening procedures.